سورة يوسف

Imam Rida (peace be upon him): It is narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Abi Nasr from Imam Rida (peace be upon him) that concerning the interpretation of the verse: وَ شَرَوْهُ بِثَمَنٍ بَخْسٍ دَرَاهِمَ مَعْدُودَةٍ [And they sold him for a small price, a few pieces of silver], he said: "The price for which Yusuf (peace be upon him) was sold was twenty dirhams. Bakhs means diminishment and deficiency. The value of a hunting dog, if it were killed, was twenty dirhams."

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): Hasan narrated from a man from Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him) that concerning the verse: وَ شَرَوْهُ بِثَمَنٍ بَخْسٍ دَرَاهِمَ مَعْدُودَةٍ [And they sold him for a small price, a few pieces of silver], he said: "The amount for which he was sold was twenty dirhams."

Imam Sajjad (peace be upon him): [The brothers of Yusuf (peace be upon him)] said: "Is there anyone among your caravan who will buy this slave from us?" A man from the caravan said: "I am the buyer," and he bought him for twenty dirhams, and the brothers paid no regard to his rank [that Yusuf (peace be upon him) is a prophet and the son of a prophet, and he cannot be sold as a slave].

Imam Ali (peace be upon him): Yusuf (peace be upon him) was sold for twenty dirhams.

Imam Baqir (peace be upon him): Ibn Husayn narrates from Imam Baqir (peace be upon him) that concerning the verse of Allah: وَ شَرَوْهُ بِثَمَنٍ بَخْسٍ دَرَاهِمَ مَعْدُودَةٍ [And they sold him for a small price, a few pieces of silver], he said: "[The price of] it was eight dirhams."

Ali ibn Ibrahim (may Allah have mercy on him): The small price for which Yusuf (peace be upon him) was sold was eighteen dirhams; and Yusuf's (peace be upon him) worth in the eyes of his brothers was such that Allah says: وَ کانُوا فِیهِ مِنَ الزَّاهِدِینَ [and they showed no desire for him].

Imam Ali (peace be upon him): The "dirham" (درهم) is called dirham because it is the house of sorrow (dar-e hamm); whoever gathers dirhams and does not spend them in the way of Allah will be seized by the fire of Hell.

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): Yusuf (peace be upon him) was dear and honored with his father and mother, until he was taken into slavery and sold for the least and lowest price; yet Allah the Exalted did not withhold from bringing him to a station where he became a king.